French Connection Wide Open

It’s an unnecessary debate,say critics,but France’s Ambassador to India Jerome Bonnafont says it’s a debate that comes up with every new wave of immigration to France . “It’s a pact that people who come to France make with the republic—that you will become French not because you are living in France for long but because you will inherit centuries of culture in France,” he says.

Culture. That’s a part of their identity that the French guard zealously,even in the face of challenges that come with globalisation. While the debate goes on,some part of that French identity will travel to India as part of Bonjour India ,a grand,three-month festival of France in India . The festival,which begins on November 28,will feature more than 100 events and 250 French artists,musicians,researchers and entrepreneurs across 18 Indian cities.

Organised by Culturesfrance and the Embassy of France in India ,the festival will introduce Indians to the finest of French music,arts,cinema,theatre and literature. Besides,there will be debates,conferences and exhibitions on science,sustainable architecture and education.

It’s also an opportunity to showcase a France that’s classic yet contemporary,say organisers. “Graffiti,street art,installations,opera,dance and music play an integral part in defining the cities of France. The varied forms of art presented at Bonjour India will give a taste of today’s French culture,” says Aruna Adiceam who is heading the Bonjour India project.

On Wednesday,at an event held at the French Cultural Centre in Delhi to announce the festival,Bonnafont said the “aim of the festival is to bring together the two countries and facilitate dialogue and cooperation in varied fields.”

“It’s fashionable to be an Indian in France . Today,India is on our minds just as Japan was in the past. And culture is the best way of diplomacy,by sending our artists and philosophers over,” says Olivier Poivre d’Arvor,Director of Culturesfrance.

The artists and scholars who will be in India for the festival hope to achieve just that. Like the Albert Kahn exhibition,titled ‘The Albert Kahn Collection: Journeys to India’. Albert Kahn,millionaire banker and philanthropist,sent two operators to document India in autochromes (early colour photographs) and black and white films. The result is a stunning mosaic of 1,200 autochromes and two hours of black-and-white silent film that capture the India of the first two decades of 20th century—the water-carriers of Bombay,the mahouts of Udaipur,Rabindranath Tagore in Kahn’s garden and the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The festival also brings Jean-Michel Othoniel’s glass installation,The Precious Stonewall,for which he has worked with glassmakers from Firozabad ,Uttar Pradesh. Another highlight is The Giraffes-Compagnie OFF,a street parade mixing opera,circus and burlesque,featuring giant giraffes and circus boys.

It’s also an opportunity to showcase a France that’s classic,yet contemporary.

“Our goal is to present a new,contemporary image of France. It’s a strong cliché that France,as a country,has stopped evolving,” says Cecile Peyronnet,Head of Artistic Services Department,Ministry of Culture,France.

So while France continues to pride itself in being the country of Montmarte,Eiffel,wine,cheese and Mona Lisa,it is today also the country of world music,thriving McDonald’s restaurants and hip-hop artiste Mourad Merzouki,whose show Wasteland is a highlight of Bonjour India.

It’s this spirit that the festival hopes to bring to India.

Programme schedule on http://www.bonjour-india.com.